The extra deputies will allow the department to work in specialized units that target the criminal “hierarchy” that organize drug sales, drive-by shootings and other violent crimes, Sheriff Dick Meyers said.

The new hires also will allow the county to dedicate deputies to the Violent Crimes Task Force, a cooperation between Illinois State Police, Winnebago County Sheriff, Rockford and Loves Park police departments.

“It will be a very flexible unit,” Meyers said. “The most important thing we’re looking for is not so much quantity of arrests, but we’re looking for quality.

“Those that are causing the biggest problems, we want to be able to go out and try to take them off the street.”

Meyers said the arrest of an alleged Waco street gang member last month is the type of work the task force will tackle.

On Sept. 24, detectives from the Rockford Police Department, Loves Park Police Department and Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department arrested Jarvis Washington on several outstanding warrants. Agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Illinois State Police assisted in the investigation.

Police recovered more than 200 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of heroin, marijuana and a handgun during the arrest.

Police agencies have been cooperating on crime hot spots. The county’s special focus unit and Rockford’s M3 Street team have been working together almost nightly, Lt. Patrick Hoey said. The task force is another example of cooperative work the departments have been doing informally.

Meyers said they’ll use intelligence information gathered by Rockford police to determine where to focus their efforts. Meyers said it’s important for the county and other agencies to focus on Rockford because crime in the city can spill into surrounding areas.

“When you help the city and the city gets safer, the entire county gets safer as a result,” he said.

Meyers hopes to have the new deputies hired by November, bringing the department total to 109, including its Machesney Park division.